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The Call of the Wind, Children of Kyne, Volume I |
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Kane |
Dec 10 2024, 03:06 PM
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Master

Joined: 26-September 16
From: Hammerfell

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I just finished up the long volume II of this series, so I thought I'd start posting them both here. This entry is one of my first real stabs at writing out a tale and one of only a couple I ever finished. The dialogue is a little stilted and the chapters are short (needed more practice) so it isn't a long read. If you are interested in reading it, I hope you enjoy! (PS, I'm too lazy to proofread this one and I wrote in 2018, so if there are any spelling or grammar errors, I apologize in advance!)
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Prologue
The morning dew lay gleaming on the lush, green undergrowth of Cyrodiil’s Great Forest as the morning sun shined through the branches of its lofty trees. Deep in the heart of the woodlands, sat a small clearing and at its center lie a large rock, covered in silky green moss. Here upon this stone, sat an impressively large brown hawk - it looked far out of place among the other birds of the province, but it was not without purpose. Sitting as still as the unmoving stone beneath it, a wanderer could have mistaken it for a small statue to some long forgotten god. Nestling its head into her wing feathers, she waited impassively for her prey. Soon thereafter, a crashing could be heard in the forests nearby. Quite suddenly, a pale, sickly looking Colovian emerged from the dense brush and scampered right through the clearing without so much as a glance at the large hawk. Craning her neck, she listened for the pursuer she was expecting.
And sure enough, the gentle footsteps of a practiced stalker could be heard approaching the clearing, following the rampant destruction of the woodland left in the wake of the panicked, clumsy runner. The hawk lifted her head and waited for this new, but nonetheless expected visitor.
Ah, I see this predator is much too clever to wander into a forest clearing. The professional that he is knows to avoid such a thing, as it is ripe for ambush. Perhaps a little encouragement is needed…
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The mercenary did not like what he saw ahead. Peering through the bramble, he intensely surveyed the clearing, looking for any sign of an ambush. The vampire he pursued had thus far been crashing through the forest like an ogre, but that may have been a ruse. Vampires, he had always thought, were usually much cleverer than this oaf was.
Hesitating outside the clearing was wasting time, but his instincts were kicked into overdrive as he approached it. Long ago he learned to trust those instincts, and many times they had been the difference between life and death. So there he sat, eyes darting around the forest opening, searching intently for signs of danger.
Quite suddenly, the once calm morning changed as a brisk northern wind began to flow through the woods, rustling the treetops and bringing a slight chill to the air. Our mercenary barely noticed the change in clime, until he heard the whispers on the wind. Startled, he relaxed his eyes, and instead strained his ears to the wind, where he swore a voice had whispered to him. The breeze fluttered once more, and this time he was positive…his name was carried gently on the wind.
Kirin...approach my child. Follow your instincts…and my voice…
Standing up nervously, he shouldered his composite bow, and walked boldly into the clearing. To his utter surprise, the hawk he’d mistaken for a statue hewn above the boulder stretched its impressive wings, and spoke to him with an undoubtedly feminine voice.
“It is time for you to return home, my child. Skyrim awaits you, and your destiny has come. Left behind will be your days of mercenary work and feeble pleasures. They matter not now, and only what you accomplish next will be of any consequence.”
This was unexpected, and temporarily froze Kirin, as a million thoughts raced through his mind. He settled on only one, though.
“And if I refuse?”
“It will matter not. The aspect of destiny is inescapable, and utterly final. Try as you might, it will simply catch up to you later, at a time when you may have less choice in its subtleties. Heed my words, and I promise you will not regret the choice to follow them.”
Kirin pondered on her words once more, and quickly realized what he was dealing with. One should not refuse the finality of the divines… He removed his helmet, and knelt on the grass before the large northern hawk.
“Lady Kyne, I see the wisdom in your words, and I pledge myself and my service to you.”
“Very well, young Kirin. Your time in Cyrodiil is at an end. Return to your fellow brothers and sisters of Skyrim, and your true journey shall begin in earnest.”
She then spread her wings once more, and took to the skies above Tamriel, flying ever northwards.skies above Tamriel, flying ever northwards.
This post has been edited by Kane: Dec 10 2024, 03:08 PM
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Kane |
Dec 11 2024, 05:48 PM
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Master

Joined: 26-September 16
From: Hammerfell

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Reaching for the Sky
Kirin and Lydia were relaxing in the outdoor bath of Elysium with a plate of food and a bottle of wine when Lydia began to chuckle.
“Just who long do you plan on making them wait, my thane?”
“Not long, my housecarl,” he winked. “But we’ve earned the chance to relax at home for a day. Besides – we are both in desperate need of working on our gear. We’ve put our arms and armor through hell the last few weeks, and I’m of mind to smith some new items up for us.”
“Well, time is a-ticking. You better get to it soon, if you plan on outfitting us better.”
“As you wish, my liege!” mocked Kirin. He rose out of the pool, making sure to splash Lydia on the way out, prompting her to toss an apple at him.
“Oy! At least wait until I have my armor on before you go throwing things at me!”
Lydia laughed, as Kirin through on some more clothes, and began to stoke the fires of his forge. Rummaging through the supply shelves, he began to pull out various ingots and pelts they collected on their travels, and set to work on a new set of armor for himself. He toiled away for several hours before heading back into the house, laden with new gear for the both of them. A late dinner came next and they set into the small feast Lydia prepared with vigor. Everything was delicious to last bite, and after a quick nightcap they headed off to be. Tomorrow resumed their long journey, and they were getting an early start.
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They’d always heard the Reach was dangerous, but since neither Kirin nor Lydia had ever been – they did not expect it to be as treacherous as the found it to be. Saber cats lurked among high outcroppings of stone, and the endless Forsworn hunkered down in every ruin or clearing that they could. Landslides of dirt and rock greeted them in the valleys, and rushing rivers cascaded over cliff faces with a deafening roar that drowned out all else nearby.
It was slow going as they two stalked quietly through the menacing hold, but they couldn’t help but be awed in its utter beauty. Juniper trees bloomed on every steppe and towering cliff faces hung ivy from every ledge. Mountain flowers and lavender lined the cobblestone road, with the occasional Nightshade drawing ones eye with its dark leaves, and deeply violet petals waving in the gentle breeze that flowed through the valleys.
Neither Kirin or Lydia spoke much as they walked, taking in the beauty around them. Before long they were stopped for a rest at Old Hroldan, but it was cut short when the familiar roar of a dragon penetrated the stone walls of the old inn. Gearing back up, they charged outside and up the mountain path, unsheathing their honed blades as they went. Unsure of where Esbern and Delphine were, they took on the powerful Blood Dragon by themselves, peppering it with arrows as it flew to and fro above the plateau they danced across.
Eventually it landed, and could not handle the assault from two fronts. It fell within minutes and began the familiar effect of slowly bursting into flames, as its life force expelled from the dragons body and into Kirin’s. He was slowly coming to peace with the ability bestowed upon him, and it was beginning to show. Lydia had reached out to hold him in case Kirin was overwhelmed again, but this time he took it in stride and breathed deeply as everything settled.
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“You’re starting to handle that like a master, Kirin.”
“Hmm? Oh, you mean the dragon soul?” responded Kirin. “I’ve been meditating on it whenever I can, and trying to come to terms with it. I still feel their emotions, but I’m trying to embrace it as a union of kinship more than a usurpation of power.”
“I’d say that approach is working quite well,” said Lydia. “Now then, what about this problem.”
She motioned silently to the camp in the valley below them. A Forsworn encampment sprawled out over wooden docks and bridges that spanned the small creek running through Karthspire. There were at least a dozen of the deadly Reachmen, and a Hagraven also nested in an offshoot from the main camp. Kirin studied it for a few moments before whispering to Lydia.
“There isn’t much we can do to even the odds. Our best bet is to take a few out with our bows befo – “
He quit talking with a groan and pointed down towards the stone bridge that led into the camp from the southwest. Delphine and Esbern were charging in without regard, apparently intent on wiping out the Forsworn on their own.
“What fools!” hissed Lydia. “Come on, we need to help them!”
“We’ll drop in over there, and get rid of the hag first. Let’s go!”
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